Macedonia's main political leaders resume talks on deal to resolve country's political crisis

SKOPJE, Macedonia – The leaders of Macedonia's main political parties have resumed meeting in country's capital of Skopje for the first time since negotiations aimed ending a major political crisis collapsed in Brussels last week.

The political crisis, one of the deepest Macedonia has faced since gaining independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, stems from opposition claims that the government illegally wire-tapped 20,000 people. The government denies wrongdoing.

Conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski met Friday with Social Democrat opposition leader Zoran Zaev and along with the heads of two ethnic Albanian political parties. Envoys from the European Union and the United States were also present.

The EU mission in Macedonia, which has helped broker the talks, said the party leaders agreed to continue talks at a June 29 meeting.